Picatinny Arsenal has developed a climate-controlled kennel for military dogs. The kennels are scheduled for deployment abroad and to training facilities in December 2014.
(Courtesy of Picatinny Arsenal)

So engineers from Picatinny Arsenal and Rock Island, Ill. are developing kennels for environments with extreme temperatures, to help military working dogs stay relatively comfortable, according to the arsenal.

The dogs are used for patrolling, and for locating explosives and narcotics.

"Military working dogs have been used for different missions within the Army since Vietnam, and they are probably the most reliable source of explosive detection that the Army has," Project Officer Frank Altamura said in an announcement from the arsenal.

The kennels will have systems to provide fresh air circulation in the absence of natural breezes. They'll heat the air when the weather's, cold and warm the air when the weather's hot. When its 5 degrees out, the kennels will be at least 45 degrees, according to Picatinny. And when it's 120 degrees out, the kennels won't get to be more than 85 degrees.

CONNECT WITH US

Current kennels are open-air and must be kept in the barracks with troops to stay temperature-controlled, according to Picatinny.

"The new kennel gives the dog his own place, while not being cramped in the (Existing) Vari kennel in the troop's quarters," Altamura said.

The new kennels also include an exercise area, where dogs can run. They'll be able to enter and exit through doggie doors.

Deputy Project Officer Tom Case said in the announcement that dogs on missions of less than 30 days will remain in the Vari kennels. Dogs deployed for 30 to 180 days will use the new kennels. Dogs deployed for longer will be housed in brick and mortar structures.

The kennels can be used separately from the exercise areas and transported quickly on trucks for missiosn of under 30 days, according to Picatinny.

The program is preparing to seek bids for production, and the kennels are scheduled for deployment abroad and to training facilities in December 2014.